Ghana's Cabinet has approved a formal application to join BRICS, a bloc of major emerging economies consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced the decision during Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar's official visit to Ghana. This move aims to provide Ghana with more economic options and diversify its international partnerships.
The decision to join BRICS was taken by Cabinet under President John Dramani Mahama, with Ablakwa describing it as a first-time public disclosure of the government's intentions. Joining BRICS alongside India is expected to deepen cooperation within the Global South framework, focusing on South-South engagement. This alignment could offer Ghana new avenues for trade, investment, and development financing with some of the world's largest emerging economies.
BRICS, originally formed by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates. The bloc represents a significant share of the world's population and economic output, positioning itself as a counterweight to Western-dominated financial institutions. This shift promotes trade and development financing among member states outside traditional dollar-based systems.
Ghana has already approached India for support with the BRICS application process, with Ablakwa expressing optimism that New Delhi would back Accra's bid. A successful application could mean new trade, investment, and development financing opportunities for ordinary Ghanaians, although the terms and timeline of Ghana's potential membership remain unclear.
The BRICS announcement coincided with broader commitments between Ghana and India to deepen bilateral ties in sectors such as railways, pharmaceuticals, information and communications technology, defence, and agriculture. The two countries signed two Memoranda of Understanding covering agricultural research and training, as well as science and technology cooperation.
Dr. Jaishankar noted that Ghana and India face comparable development challenges and could benefit from sharing expertise. He praised Ghana's standing within the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and called for closer coordination between the two countries at the United Nations, including on proposed reforms to the UN Security Council.
The timeline for Ghana's BRICS application submission and review, as well as potential conditions for new members, remains unclear. It is also uncertain how Ghana's existing trade and diplomatic relationships with Western partners might be affected by this pivot. Ablakwa's remarks mark the first official confirmation of Ghana's BRICS ambitions, with further details expected to emerge as talks with India and other bloc members continue.
Key points
- Ghana's Cabinet approves application to join BRICS to diversify economic partnerships.
- The move aims to deepen cooperation within the Global South framework.
- Ghana-India cooperation will be strengthened in various sectors, including railways and agriculture.
